In the wide and generally accepted sense, a pilgrim is one who travels a distance from his own home and land to visit what men describe as a sacred place. Many pagans became pilgrims in this manner and are anything but pilgrims in the spiritual and Scriptural sense. But Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sara and others of whom we read in the 11th chapter of Hebrews and elsewhere, confessed that they were pilgrims on the earth. In a word, every Christian in every generation is a pilgrim on the earth.
Such began their pilgrimage when, as sinners in the Kingdom of Satan, they were called effectually through the truth of the gospel and by the power of the Holy Spirit to believe in the Son of God unto their salvation, and to abandon the kingdom of Satan and a life of sin, and to live a life of faith upon their Saviour and His fullness of grace and truth.
Their final objective and destination is “a better country even an heavenly” and an eternal residence in this country according to the promise of God given to each one of them. This country is heaven and glory in the eternal World; and as we read in the Word of God, believers have peace with God and are enjoined to “rejoice in hope of the glory of God” (Romans, ch. 5, v. 2). And so as pilgrims they are called to take their journey heaven ward in the hope and expectation of arriving there one day, to see Christ Jesus as He is, to be like Him there and to dwell with Him for ever. This is an inexpressibly glorious prospect held out to every true pilgrim in the Scriptures of truth, and in regard to which the Lord Jesus prayed when in the World; “Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given . . .” (John chap. 17, vr. 24). Truly we have here an infinitely sacred place where Christ’s glory is to be beheld and admired one day by all them that believe.
An indispensable help on the way is of course Prayer. No pilgrim can travel progressively in the life of grace on the earth without constant, earnest and secret prayer to the Most High whose ear is
open to their cry. And although they discover during their sojourn that they are afflicted with many infirmities and weaknesses in their soul’s experience, yet: “The Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered:” (Romans, chap. 8, vr. 26). They have indeed great need to hearken to the counsel of the Lord that, “men ought always to pray and not to faint” as they may be liable to faint time and again in their faith, their strength and in their expectation of ever arriving at the better Country. But in answer to their cries they will obtain grace to help them in their times of need, spiritually and providentially, and have reason to declare, “I love the Lord because my voice and prayers He did hear:” (Ps. 116, v. 1). The pilgrim must watch and pray, lest he enter into temptation, because an evil heart of unbelief can cause much trouble and discouragement and Satan is watching to hinder him on the way. Paul himself experienced this from Satan: “Satan hindered us,” he writes. But prayer will obtain assistance from the Lord.
And the traveller to heaven must be deeply concerned regarding his character before the World. God’s honour, their own sanctification and the outward fruits of the same, and a good profession before men, requires much grace to abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; and that they might have their conversation honest among men: “That whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation:” (1st Peter, chap. 2, verses 11 and 12). These directives the Apostle Peter addresses to the beloved people of God whom he describes as “strangers and pilgrims.” For those who profess to be on the way to heaven must needs bear some clear likeness even to Him who hath called them to undertake this pilgrimage. “But as He which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation:” (1st Peter, chap. 1, v. 15). Further let pilgrims pause and consider in this connection the following requirement—”wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings. As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby.” (1st Peter, chap. 2, v. 1 and 2). Now these serious words are not addressed to the travellers on the broadway to destruction, but to Christian pilgrims. And so they have need to examine themselves as to their spirits and conduct that what is seriously inconsistent with their profession may be laid aside in the strength of the Lord. A Christian who reveals a jealous or envious spirit and is given to evil speakings, for example, cannot command respect even from worldlings, but brings the rod of God upon himself and thus makes his journey difficult and trying. There is plenty to try the pilgrim without his bringing trouble upon himself after this manner.
Another outstanding particular is that the pilgrim will be fed on the way by the good hand of God. They will undoubtedly feel themselves poor and needy, hungry and thirsty in their spiritual experiences many a time. But the Lord has a loving, covenant care for all His people passing through the wilderness of this world and will supply all their needs according to His wisdom and will, out of the fullness of the atoning sacrifice of Christ Jesus, the riches of His grace in Christ and the sincere milk of His precious Word. They must needs come hungry and thirsty and with the open mouth of faith to God through Jesus Christ to be fed and satisfied and strengthened for every stage of their journey. “Open thy mouth wide and I will fill it,” is the divine counsel and promise, and when there is a humble, heart exercise accordingly, the Most High gives spiritual food convenient and suitable for the pilgrim as He sees and considers their case, need and circumstances. Whatever else may be withheld from them for long periods, such as special and precious promises, the Lord Jesus as the bread which came down from heaven and as to His broken body and shed blood, is the food and drink they cannot do without. As Jesus declared of Himself: “My flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed:” (John, chap. 6, ver. 55). When enabled as poor, hungry and thirsty believers to feed on Christ they are satisfied as with marrow and fatness and are cheered and uplifted in heart and mind so that they are constrained to thank and bless the Father of mercies again and again, throughout their pilgrimage, for the feast that they find Christ to be. By feeding also upon the sincere milk of the Word and the pure, substantial and divine doctrines of the Gospel they grow and are strengthened in the inner man of the soul to persevere on their way.
Such are warned by the Lord that they will have tribulation on the way to the better country. He says: “In the World ye shall have tribulation.” And this has been the lot of pilgrims who have gone before and are now at their desired destination with Christ and have thus entered into rest. David had his afflictions and Paul had many also. So it shall be more or less with all who are followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises. Whatever the nature of the trials, these shall work for good and along with other effects will tend to wean the pilgrim from the world and to enliven their desire for the promised land and the rest to be attained therein. Although in cases and at times under certain trials, the pilgrim will be liable to say like David, “I am ready to halt.” But the Lord will not leave or forsake those that are His redeemed people. He will come to them, help them and comfort them in His own time and way, so that they will discover that it was indeed good for them that they were afflicted. It may be that out of such experiences some pilgrims may be instrumental in comforting other pilgrims. “… With the comfort wherewith they themselves were comforted of God:” (2nd Corinth. chap. 1), and so encouraging them to trust
in the Lord the more and to continue in faith and hope and by prayer on their journey heavenward.
The greatest Friend of the pilgrim is Jesus. However few or many desirable companions the Christian has on his journey, and however pleasant their fellowship, they can never take the place of the Lord Jesus Christ as the Friend that sticketh closer than a brother. The pilgrim can lean upon Jesus when he cannot lean upon a companion believer; he can tell to Jesus his needs and troubles which he cannot disclose to a fellow-pilgrim; he can expect infallible counsel and advice from Jesus which he cannot look for from the wisest of pilgrims. Jesus is the “all” of the pilgrim right to the very end of the journey on the earth. This journey could never be undertaken without Christ Jesus. As He reminded His disciples: “Without me ye can do nothing.”
The end of the pilgrim’s journey comes in God’s appointed time. The journey of some is short and the pilgrimage of others is longer according to the purpose of God, and then the Christian pilgrim comes to the close of his travels when he enters “the valley of the shadow of death.” Beyond this valley he enters the promised land of heaven to sing the praises of God and of the Lamb: “Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb,” (Revelation, chap. 7, ver. 10). And their banner throughout their pilgrimage might well be: “Wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He hath prepared for them a city:” (Hebrews, chap. xi, ver. 16).
Finally, if we are not gracious pilgrims on the journey to Eternity, then we are travelling with many companions upon the broadway which leadeth to destruction in hell. Time is short, man’s days are few upon earth, and the beginning of another year ought to remind us of the solemn fact that we are drawing nearer to Eternity. Let sinners cry to God, in the name of Jesus Christ to bring their hearts and their feet into the “right way” which leads to eternal glory.